Pivotally mounted fuel collector

ABSTRACT

A vehicle fuel handling apparatus in a fuel tank including a fuel pump supported by a fuel delivery conduit, a fuel return conduit and an elongated fuel collector. The collector is pivotally supported by the pump and the fuel return conduit for movement from an installation position in which the collector is closely spaced with respect to the conduits for the purpose of easy insertion through a small opening in the fuel tank to an installed position in which the collector is moved away from the conduits and into overlying contact with respect to the bottom of the fuel tank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern automobiles usually use an electric fuel pump within the fueltank to pass fuel to the engine fuel injection system. Excess fuel whichis not necessary for engine operation is then returned to the fuel tankthrough a separate fuel return line or conduit. A reservoir like deviceto collect fuel about the inlet of the fuel pump is desirable,particularly when the fuel level in the tank is low. The collectorprevents starvation of the pump which could cause the engine to diewhich could subsequently result in abnormally prolonged cranking of theengine starter motor during a restart operation.

Basically, the collector is an open topped container supported at thebottom of the fuel tank and surrounds the inlet of the fuel pump. Thefuel return line empties into the collector in a manner that drawsadditional fuel from the surrounding fuel tank into the collector. Anaspirator type device is normally used to draw additional fuel into thecollector. By this means, the fuel level in the collector may be raisedsignificantly above the level of fuel in a nearly empty fuel tank. Earlyfuel collectors or reservoirs were attached to the bottom wall of thefuel tank. This is a relatively costly arrangement and once the tank isassembled or completed, the reservoir may not be withdrawn or serviced.Examples of U.S. patents exhibiting this type of collector structureare: 3,049,171 to Neuerburg and 4,397,333 to Liba et al.

Rather than attachment of a collector or reservoir to the fuel tank, itwould be better to mount the collector to the fuel delivery meansextending into the fuel tank. A problem with this is the limitation incollector size which may fit through the access opening of the tank.Also, there must be some way to insure that the collector engages thetank bottom so that substantially all the fuel is removed from the tank.Another reason that the collector must engage the tank bottom is toeliminate movements and vibrations in the tank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This application's fuel delivery apparatus includes a collector which ismounted on the aforesaid fuel delivery means which includes the fuelpump and fuel outlet and return conduits. In addition, the collector issupported in a manner which allows the collector to pivot against thefuel conduits so that the apparatus assumes a relatively small profileor cross section. This small profile allows the collector to easily beinserted through an access opening into the fuel tank. Once in the tank,the collector may pivot away from the conduits and engage the tank'sbottom wall in a desirable close overlying relationship.

The subject collector is unlike the collectors previously identified inthe patents. Those collectors were made of rigid material such as steelor the like. The subject collector is of rubber or a rubber likematerial which is relatively flexible. The flexibility permits thecollector to conform to fuel tank bottom which may have irregularitiesfrom tank to tank. Also, the flexible collector readily accommodatesother irregularities or differences in the distance from the tank bottomand the insertion opening. The rubber material is also capable ofdamping vibrations and resists damages by the adjacent tank bottombecause of its toughness.

As previously stated, the collector is mounted so as to pivot about thefuel delivery apparatus, particularly the inlet of the fuel pump. Forthe purpose of introducing desired quantities of fuel and thus produce asufficient liquid level in the collector, the subject apparatus has areturn conduit for excess fuel discharging into the collector. The fuelreturn conduit helps support the collector and discharges a stream offuel into the collector in the manner of an aspirator. Specifically, theoutlet end portion of the fuel return is directed into an aperture inthe collector. The aperture is located above the bottom wall of thecollector and is configured so that the end portion of the fuel returnaxially moves therein when the collector is pivoted between the firstinstallation position and the second installed position describedheretofore.

The end portion of the fuel return is configured with a hood-like meansthereabout which defines a gap or opening adjacent the aforesaid fuelreturn flow or stream. This gap communicates with the fuel tank interiorso that the stream of return fuel into the aperture and collector drawsadditional fuel into the collector from the fuel tank. Consequently, theliquid fuel level in the collector may be built-up higher than the levelin a nearly empty fuel tank.

From the foregoing comments and description of the subject apparatus, itcan be understood that the fuel delivery means and the associatedimproved collector is a very useful and practical device with severalimportant features. Further advantageous features and objects can beappreciated by a reading of the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment of the fuel delivery apparatus and collector asshown in the drawings which are described as follows:

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are side elevational views of the apparatus first in aninstallation operative position and second in an installed positionrelative to a fuel tank and broken away to reveal otherwise hiddenfeatures; and

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 but taken from an opposite side of thecollector and broken away to reveal interior features; and

FIG. 4 is a planar top view of the collector device; and

FIG. 5 is a sectioned view taken along section line 5--5 in FIG. 4 andlooking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the collector looking in the direction ofarrow 6 in FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 7-11 are sectioned views of the collector taken along respectivesection lines 7--7 to 11--11 in FIGS. 4 and 5 and looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the fuel return and aspiratorportion of the device in the installed operative position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

Particularly in FIGS. 1-3, a fuel delivery apparatus is illustrated fora fuel tank. The fuel tank is not shown in its entirety but a bottomwall 10 and an inclined side wall 12 thereof are shown, it beingunderstood that the tank typically is a sheet metal enclosure with top,bottom and side wall portions. The tank may take many forms andconfigurations, all applicable to the subject apparatus.

In the drawings, the side wall 12 of the tank is inclined with respectto the bottom wall 10. An aperture or opening 14 is formed in the sidewall 12 for the purpose of insertive inclusion or assembly of a fueldelivery and collector apparatus 16 as best illustrated in FIG. 1.Specifically, the apparatus is in an installation operative position asopposed to the installed operative position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Inthe installation position, the apparatus has a narrow or relativelysmall profile or cross-sectional shape to enable the apparatus to fitthrough the opening 14 as extended by the broken lines 18 which define acylindrical form or boundary corresponding to the configuration ofopening 14.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus 16 is supported relative tothe side wall 12 by a cover member 20 with a radially inward edgeportion 22 adapted to fit within the opening 14 and a radially outwardedge portion 24 overlying the side wall of the outside of the fuel tank.An annularly shaped seal member 26 extends between the edge portion 24and the side wall 12. The cover member 20 supports a fuel delivery orpump outlet fitting 28 and a fuel return fitting 30, both of which areof metal tubing extending through the cover. The exterior end portionsof the fittings 28, 30 are adapted to be attached to fuel linesextending to the associated vehicle's engine.

The interior end of the fitting 28 is connected to a conduit or hose 32,the lower end of which is connected to an outlet 34 of an electric fuelpump 36. Likewise, the interior end of the other fitting 30 is connectedto the upper end portion 38 of a fuel return conduit 40 by fasteners 42,44. Specifically, the fasteners 42, 44 extend through a laterallyextending portion of conduit 40 and thread into a similarly extendingfitting 46 attached to the interior end of fitting 30 by a weld or thelike 48.

The fuel return conduit 40 is a rigid tubular member for passingunneeded fuel from the vehicle engine fuel injection system back intothe fuel tank. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings,the conduit 40 is a molded plastic member which includes a thin web orrib 50 which extends axially of the tubular portion of the conduit 40.The rib 50 serves to strengthen the conduit 40 which is a primarysupport of the collector portion of the apparatus 16 as will be moreapparent hereinafter.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the apparatus 16 includes an elongatedliquid fuel collector 52. In the installed position, the bottom wall 54of the collector 52 extends along and over the tank's bottom wall 10.The collector also has a continuous side wall 56 and a top wall 58. Thewalls 54, 56, 58 generally encircle and interior 60 of the collector.The top wall 58 defines an elongated opening 62 to the interior 60through which the fuel pump 36 extends. Opening 62 also allows fuel toreadily fill the interior 60 without trapping vapor.

As perhaps best shown in FIG. 3, the fuel pump 36 extends from theconduit 32 downward into the collector interior 60 through opening 62.The pump 36 has the outlet fitting 34 at an upper end and an inletforming member 63 at a lower end. The inlet includes a screen-likefilter member 64 which is flexible to allow pivotal movement of thecollector about the pump. The pump 36 is generally cylindrically shapedand is supported at its lower end by a tubular mounting member 65. Themember 65 includes a tubular projection 66 extending outward from theside of the member 65. Although not shown in FIG. 3, a similarprojection extends from the other side of the mount 65 but in anopposite direction. The projections are aligned one with the other andengage the inner side wall of the collector 52. A pair of fastener 68 ofthe self tapping type extend through openings in the side wall 56 of thecollector 52 and thread into the tubular projections 66 thus pivotallyconnecting the collector and the fuel pump mount 65 together.

In the previous paragraph it was explained how the collector 52 and fuelpump mount 65 were pivotally connected. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, thecollector 52 and the return conduit 40 are also pivotally connected byone of the pair of fasteners 68. Specifically, an offset arm 70 on thelower end portion of return conduit 40 has a bore therein for passage offastener 68. Thus, the collector pivots between the installation and theinstalled operative positions of FIGS. 1 and 2 about the common axis ofthe fasteners 68.

In FIGS. 4-11, details of the collector structure are illustrated. Thepreviously discussed details of the collector are not repeatedhereafter. The collector 52 is an elongated and generally hollowenclosure which is molded of flexible rubber or rubber-like material.The rubber structure adapts well to the bottom of the fuel tank anddampens vibration. The enclosure shape of the collector impartssufficient strength when in the installed position of FIG. 2. Duringinstallation of the collector, greater longitudinal strength is neededthan the rubber structure offers. To strengthen the structure, a spineor stiffener is attached to the rubber collector body as discussedhereinafter.

In FIGS. 4 and 6-11, the collector is strengthened by an elongated spineor stiffener member 72. The stiffener 72 is molded of tough andrelatively rigid elastomeric material and is attached to the flexiblecollector structure by the three fasteners or rivets 74. Specifically,the rivets 74 extend through aligned holes in the stiffener 72 and anequal number of outward tab portions 76 of the collector. Thus, thestiffener 72 significantly strengthens the collector in the axial orlength direction thereof. Before the collector 52 is in the assembled orinstalled position of FIG. 2, the collector needs longitudinal strength.

The stiffener 72 lies in side by side relation with the collector bodyand also defines a firm portion of the collector through which a fuelinlet and return aperture extends. Specifically, the collector 52 isprovided with a radially outward enlargement 78 located at thecollector's end portion adjacent the fuel pump as best revealed in FIGS.2 and 7-10. The enlargement of the collector most importantly defines aradially or laterally extending surface means including connectedsurfaces 80, 82 and 84. A space adjacent the surfaces 80 and 82 define aspace for one of the above identified projections from the fuel pumpmount member 66. Thus, the surfaces lie adjacent the opening 86 for thefastener 68, shown in FIG. 2. The surface 84 is inclined with respect tothe plane of the collector bottom 54 as best shown in FIG. 10. Anaperture 88 extends therethrough and is close to the bottom surface 54of the collector 52 and thus the fuel tank bottom so that fuel from thetank close to the bottom wall 10 may be drawn through the aperture 88and into the collector 52.

As can be seen in FIGS. 6,7,9 and 10, the stiffener member 72 includeswall portions 90,92 and 94 which conform to the collector's portions80,82 and 84 respectively. The plane of portions 90,92 and 94 is thuslateral with respect to the axis of the elongated collector. Referringnow to enlarged FIG. 12, the specific configuration of overlyingportions 84 and 94 are best illustrated. The stiffener's wall portion 94has an inwardly directed tubular extension or sleeve 96 extendingthrough the aperture 88 and terminating slightly outward from the innersurface of the wall 84. The stiffener's wall 94 and its sleeve 96 thusdefines a relatively rigid cylinder 98.

The sleeve 96 is adapted to receive a lower end portion of the fuelreturn conduit 40 as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 12. Specifically, the endportion of the fuel return defines a fuel return outlet 100 orientatedto pass a stream of fuel into the interior of the collector 56. The endportion 100 includes an enlarged tubular portion or hood 102 having aslightly smaller outer diameter than the cylinder 98. Both the endportion 100 and hood 102 are curved about a center of rotationcorresponding to the axis of fasteners 68. This allows the hood 102 tomove through and within the cylinder 98 of sleeve 96 as the collectorpivots from the installation position of FIG. 1 to the installedposition of FIG. 2.

The end portion 100 and tubular hood 102 are integrally molded together.The hood 102 forms an inlet to the collector interior or fuel passage104 as encircled by the sleeve 96. The tubular hood 102 is cut-awayadjacent the end which forms the flow passage 100 in a manner defininginlet means 106. The inlet means 106 communicates with fuel in thesurrounding tank and particularly fuel just above the tank bottom 10 asis shown on FIG. 12. Resultantly, return fuel from the enginecompartment streams with significant velocity from the passage 100 andthrough the inlet 104. This fast flowing stream tends to drag additionalfuel from the tank through the passage 104 and into the interior of thecollector in the operative manner of an aspirator.

When fuel levels in the tank are at a low level, it is desirable tomaintain a higher level of fuel in the collector to prevent starvationof the fuel pump. As a result of the afore described aspirator action,the fuel level in the collector 56 may be elevated above the fuel levelin the surrounding tank. This occurs when the tank is near empty as isshown in FIG. 2 by numeral 108 which indicates a low fuel level. Alsoshown in FIG. 2, a relatively high fuel level in collector 52 isindicated by the numeral 110.

In addition to maintaining high fuel levels in the collector while thevehicle is operated, it is also desirable to maintain such an elevatedlevel overnight or for longer periods. Thus, a capacity to maintain ahigh level overnight promotes starting the engine at a later time andbefore a significant fuel return flow is established to generate theabove identified aspirator effect. For this purpose, an unidirectionalflow device or check valve 112 is provided in overlying relation to theinner end surface 114 of the sleeve 96. It allows flow into thecollector 56 but prevents flow out of the collector and back into thetank. The valve 112 is in the form of a flexible flap overlying the endportion 114. An upper portion of the check valve 112 is supportinglyattached to a boss 116 formed by wall 94. Specifically, the valve 112may be attached by a fastener or in the alternative by heat deforming aprojecting portion of the boss as indicated by numeral 118. In FIGS. 7and 10, the projecting portion 118 is shown before the valve 112 isapplied thereabout and before the heat deformation.

During operation of the vehicle engine, the stream of return fueldischarged from the passage 100 and into passage 104 is sufficient tomove the normally flat check valve 112 to the flow position in FIG. 12.When the engine is deactivated, the stream of fuel from passage 100stops. Thereafter, the valve 112 moves to the position shown in FIG. 2and fuel is resultantly prevented from flowing out of the collector 56.Also, when the collector 56 is in the installation position of FIG. 1,the flexible valve 112 moves in response to full insertion of end 102 ofthe return conduit 40 into the aperture 98.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 11, the collector 56 includes a pair ofupstanding supports 120 and 122 which are integrally molded with thecollector body. These supports 120, 122 include aligned channels 124,126 for the purpose of engaging a portion of the fuel outlet or conduit32 when the collector is pivoted to the position of FIG. 1.

As seen in FIGS. 1-5, an integral portion of collector 56 projectstherefrom to form a loop 128 on an end of the collector which is nearestcover member 20. The loop 128 defines an opening 130 for the purpose ofattaching one end of a strap 132, shown in FIGS. 1-2. The other end ofthe strap is attached to a tab 134 extending from the cover member 20.For removal of the assembly from the fuel tank for service or the like,the strap is used to pivot the collector 56 from the installed positionshown in FIG. 2 to the installation position illustrated in FIG. 1.

Although only a single embodiment of the fuel delivery device andcollector has been illustrated and described in detail, it should beunderstood that modifications may be made which still fall within thefollowing claims of the invention.

We claim:
 1. In a vehicle with a fuel tank to store liquid fuel for combustion in an engine, the tank having an opening for receiving fuel handling apparatus including a fuel pump and two fuel conduits, one conduit supporting the fuel pump above a bottom wall of the fuel tank and receiving fuel from the pump, the other conduit returning excess fuel to the tank, an improved device to collect liquid fuel at a desirable level about the fuel pump, comprising: the collector including an elongated and thin walled enclosure with a top wall, a side wall and a bottom wall, the bottom wall adapted to rest upon the bottom of the fuel tank after installation in the fuel tank; the top wall of the enclosure having an opening therethrough for receiving the fuel pump and for escape of vapor from the enclosure so that liquid fuel flow between the tank and the enclosure is uninhibited; a mounting member having a central portion engaging the fuel pump and with projecting portions extending laterally therefrom within the collector interior, each projection contacting an opposite side wall on the interior of the collector; the fuel return conduit having an arm portion extending adjacent one side wall on the exterior of the collector; two fasteners, a first extending through the arm portion of the fuel return conduit and the collector's side wall into the mounting member, a second fastener extending through the opposite side wall into the mounting member, the fasteners having a common axis extending laterally and substantially normal to the axis of the elongated collector, whereby the collector is allowed to pivot about the common fastener axis between an installation position in with the elongated collector is closely spaced with respect to the conduits thereby minimizing the cross-sectional shape for easy insertion through the opening in the fuel tank and an installed position in with the collector pivots away from the conduits so that its bottom wall lies adjacent the fuel tank's bottom wall.
 2. In a vehicle, a fuel tank having an opening therethrough, fuel handling apparatus including a fuel pump and an associated fuel collector, both insertably installed within the fuel tank interior through the opening, the collector accumulating liquid fuel about the fuel pump even when the fuel tank is near empty and the liquid fuel level therein is close to the tank bottom, the fuel handling apparatus including a return fuel conduit which directs a stream of fuel into the collector's interior, comprising: the collector including an elongated and thin walled enclosure having a top wall, side walls and a bottom wall, the top wall defining an opening for entry of the fuel pump into the enclosure and for the escape of vapor from the collector so that liquid flow into the collector is uninhibited; means about the fuel pump for mounting the collector about the pump including a pair of projections extending laterally in the enclosure and in opposite directions so that each projection contacts a side wall of the enclosure; the fuel return conduit having an offset arm portion which extends over and along the outside of a side wall laterally outward from one of the projections; fastener means extending through the arm portion and the side wall to attach the fuel return conduit, side wall and mount means together; another fastener means extending through the opposite side wall to attach the side wall and mount means together, the two fastener means sharing a common axis which is substantially normal to the longitudinal extent of the elongated enclosure whereby the collector may pivot from an installation position in with the enclosure is closely spaced with respect to the conduits thereby defining a relatively small cross-sectional shape easily inserted through the fuel tank opening and to an installed position in with the enclosure is moved away from the conduits into engagement with the bottom of the fuel tank.
 3. The fuel handling apparatus set forth in claims 1 or 2 in which the fuel pump mounting member is molded of relatively rigid material and has a central portion encircling at least an end of the fuel pump and the projections take the form of tubular portions, the interior of which treadably receive the fasteners.
 4. The fuel handling apparatus set forth in claims 1 or 2 and an attachment means formed on the end portion of the enclosure remote from the opposite end portion adjacent the fuel pump and resultantly located near the fuel tank opening; a strap attached to the attachment means which is accessible through the fuel tank opening to manually pivot the enclosure from the installed position to the installation position so that the apparatus may be removed from the fuel tank through the opening. 